New Generation Will Create A Safe And Secure World : PM

In this regard, she urged the young generation to work closely together as one family and said the day is not too far when they would sweep away all challenges and barriers caused by the climate change and natural disasters.

The Prime Minister was delivering a speech on "Education and Empowerment of the Youth" at the renowned Waseda University here.

She also joined an interaction session with the students there.

Vice president of the university Uchida Katsuichi also spoke on the occasion.

Putting emphasis on empowerment of the young generation through education, she said, it is the duty and responsibility of our generation to ensure empowerment of the young students to face and overcome those challenges.

Sheikh Hasina said her government has given highest priority to education as the educated youths are highly empowered to meet the challenges before them.

In this regard, she said education sector is receiving the highest allocation in country's annual budgets covering 2.3 percent of GDP and 14 percent of government expenditure to ensure "Education for All" and achieve the MDGs.

"Our government is providing free textbooks to the students up to secondary level and stipends to the poor meritorious students at all levels, she said.

She mentioned that in January this year, 317 million text books were distributed free of cost among 37 million students. "These have also helped in achieving gender parity up to higher secondary level and it continues until graduation with free tuition for girls," she said.

The Prime Minister said such noble initiatives of her government have made it possible to ensure almost 100 percent enrollment at primary level of all children.

Mentioning Japan as the trusted and largest development partner of Bangladesh, she said its economic assistance helped Bangladesh's socioeconomic progress, poverty reduction and achievement of many of the MDGs.

In this context, Sheikh Hasina highlighted some major achievements during last five years of her government including self-sufficiency in food, internet facility to 47.5 million users, introduction of 3G technology and with 4G in the offing, use of 110 million SIM cards, establishment of 13,500 community health clinics reaching medical treatment to the poors.

Besides, her government has also been able to increase of life expectancy to 69 from 65 in 2005, reduce infant mortality rate to 33 from 65 in 2005 and maternal mortality rate to 182 from 322 in 2001 and ensure social safety nets for low-income and distressed people, she said.

Citing progress with children challenged by autism and other developmental disorders, the Prime Minister said Bangladesh is unique in South and South East Asia in developing systems for these children.

"Bangladesh's technical and vocational education is also being developed to suit the needs of the modern sector as well as that of youths and underprivileged groups," she said.

Sheikh Hasina mentioned that significant portion of the country's young population of 160 million people are students and a number of them travel abroad every year for advanced education and research in countries like Japan.

The Prime Minister expressed satisfaction that the students, on completion of studies, return home and contribute to Bangladesh's development in various fields of science, technology, medicine and ICT.

Praising the role of Japanese Overseas Cooperative Association for sending young volunteers to Bangladesh over the last 40 years, she said, they are contributing to the rural economy, education and infrastructural development of Bangladesh.

Recalling her previous visit to the Waseda University in 1997, Sheikh Hasina said: "On entering this prestigious seat of learning, the animated faces of the students and the quiet dignity of the academia, reminded me of my previous visit here in 1997."

She mentioned that the esteemed Waseda University conferred on her on that occasion the Honorary Doctorate of Law and she cherish the wonderful memories of that special day.

The Prime Minister said Bangladesh and Japan today enjoy excellent relations and it began when the people of Japan mobilised support and assistance to our Great Liberation War.

At that time, she said, even the schoolchildren of Japan saved and gave their tiffin money for the distressed humanity. Our two countries' recent history of destruction and development is similar.

-Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS)